Still work to be done, insists Tait

Mar 6 2011 by Mark Smith, Sunday Sun

FALCONS boss Alan Tait insisted there was still room for improvement, despite his Newcastle side having dispatched Harlequins in convincing style on Friday night.

Tries from Alex Gray, Luke Fielden and Micky Young saw the Falcons to a 33-18 home win, as they recorded back-to-back Aviva Premiership worries to pull themselves out of the relegation quick-sand.

But having had to battle back from seven points down against the Londoners, with Tom Williams scoring after just three minutes, the head coach admitted: “We started poorly.

“The way we tackled was way too high, because it just allowed them to get go-forward at virtually every contact.

“We didn’t get the shoulder in, and we were punished with their try because it generated quick ball for the backs to exploit out wide. It was a worrying sign so early on, but we hit back strongly and the effort was good after that.”

Now 11 points clear of the drop-zone after beating basement side Leeds a week ago today, Tait said: “That’s two Aviva Premiership games now which we really wanted, and we dug out for.

“I didn’t want to say it during the week, but I was worried about our lads’ energy levels, with the match at Leeds taking so much out of everyone.

“The players answered that. They really dug deep and at the end we ground out a great result.

“I’m pleased for the players more than anything because it’s all down to their hard work, and I know we can build from here.”

Refusing to get carried away with his side still second-bottom of the table, the Scot added: “It was more just about being workman-like, and really grinding it out from seven points down early on.

“The Leeds performance was better than this one but, as they say, a win’s a win.

“I’m happy to have got three tries, though, because Quins have got a strong defence, and I thought we had real steel about us with the way we took the game to them. It was testament to our attack, and the hard work is starting to pay off there.”

Asked if his relegation worries were now behind him, Tait insisted that the focus has now switched to matters up the table, rather than looking over their shoulders in the battle for top-flight survival.

“It all depends what Leeds do, to be honest, but at the moment we are just concentrating on hunting down Sale Sharks in 10th position,” he said.

“We have them in our sights, and we’re just one point behind with a game in hand.

“We’ve got plenty of home matches to come, but we’ll just have to see how it goes.”

Attention now turns towards the Twickenham Stoop as Tait’s Falcons travel to London for Friday night’s LV= Cup semi-final, also against Harlequins.

A date with either Newport Gwent Dragons or Gloucester the weekend after in Northampton lies in store for the winner, with the prospect of silverware and Heineken Cup rugby providing all the motivation.